RALEIGH, NC - With the release of the initial NC Senate budget proposal, the North Carolina Association of Educators is urging lawmakers to prioritize students and fund North Carolina’s future in the final state budget.
NCAE President Tamika Walker Kelly released the following statement in response to the Senate’s proposed budget:
“As we evaluate the full budget proposal from the Senate against NCAE’s legislative priorities, it’s clear we have a long way to go in funding North Carolina’s future by investing in our state’s public education system. The Senate’s proposed pay raise for teachers will not make up for cost of living increases and is a step backward from the House budget which called for a 10% raise over two years as well as funding for master’s pay for teachers and paid parental leave for school employees.
"This budget will also not account for the significant pay gaps experienced by North Carolina’s public school staff compared to those with similar education and professional skills and fails to go far enough to address the critical need for competitive starting teacher salaries. The greatest need for experienced and successful educators exists in communities with the least amount of resources to supplement salaries and we will never resolve these conditions by lowering taxes on the wealthy and sending public funds to private schools.”
